Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” recently opened up to People about his thoughts on eventually leaving the iconic sketch comedy show. Thompson, who has been a part of the “SNL” cast since 2003, admitted that he does think about his final day on the show and expressed his fear that saying goodbye will be a difficult experience.
In his interview with People, Thompson shared that there are many layers to his time on “SNL,” not just what viewers see on screen. He emphasized the deep connections he has formed with the people behind the scenes over the years, making the thought of leaving even more challenging.
Despite the emotional weight of leaving “SNL,” Thompson lightened the mood by joking that he might have to “rip the bandaid and run out the back door” without saying goodbye to anyone, opting to write letters instead.
As someone who has witnessed many of his co-stars come and go over the years, Thompson acknowledged that it is always a sad experience when a cast member leaves the show. The most recent departure was Bowen Yang, who left during Season 51.
Reflecting on his own inevitable exit from “SNL,” Thompson admitted that he is dreading the moment and fears he might collapse under the weight of leaving behind so many years of relationships and memories. He never anticipated that “SNL” would become such a significant part of his life and never imagined he would land the job in the first place.
In a previous interview in May of 2025, Thompson hinted at the possibility of significant cast changes in Season 51, as several cast members had already left before the season began. Despite the potential for more departures, Thompson expressed his desire for the current cast members to stay on the show, likening it to wanting your children to stay young forever.
Season 51 of “SNL” welcomed a new crop of fresh faces, including Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels expressed his excitement about the new additions, emphasizing that change is a positive thing for the show.
As Thompson continues to navigate his future on “SNL,” fans will undoubtedly support him in whatever decision he makes regarding his eventual departure from the long-running sketch comedy series.
